Why Liberia’s President Weah must go (democratically)
African ArgumentsOct 02, 2023
The Facts
Liberian voters headed to polls on Tuesday for the presidential runoff between incumbent Pres. George Weah and former Vice Pres. Joseph Boakai, who finished the first-round election with a difference of just 7,126 votes.
This comes after neither the former international soccer star Weah nor his repeat challenger Boakai got an outright majority last month, securing 43.8% and 43.4% of the total, respectively. The winner will be sworn into office in January next year.
The Spin
Narrative A
Following empty promises and an unsuccessful first term as president, it's time for Weah to go. A poor economy and unchecked corruption remain Liberia's primary concerns six years later, and Weah has only shown that he's not adept at finding solutions to these problems. As the threat of military coups continues to loom over many West African states, Liberia must use its democratic autonomy to vote for positive change instead of the status quo.
Narrative B
Though Weah's first term in office may not have been exceptional, he succeeded in maintaining both the country's political and macroeconomic stability. He has also improved security with little to no external support, contributed to regional peace, and consistently passed the Millennium Challenge Corporation scorecards. Additionally, he's the only candidate who has the strength and energy to heal the nation from polarization.